Structure of the Large Intestine Channel

Metal occurs in a Yin and Yang organ form in each of the three Dan-Tian. For the Yin organ forms see the Lung channel

– Metal Yang upper Dan-Tian:

– sinus cavities

– Maxillary sinus – Qi – the laws of the Qi realm. – corresponds to the vibrational frequency of the laws of manifesting of the Qi realm

– frontal sinus- Shen – the laws of the Shen realm – corresponds to the vibrational frequency of the laws of manifesting of the Shen realm

– ethmoid sinus– Ling – the laws of the ancestor realm Ethmoid – corresponds to the vibrational frequency of the laws of manifesting of the Ling spiritual realm

– sphenoid sinus– Tao – the laws of the Universal / Supracausal realm Sphenoid – corresponds to the vibrational frequency of the laws of manifesting (the ecstatic equilibrium) of the supracausal / Universal

At the large intestine channel, embodied man is made of the four forces within Wood. This is initiated in the four sinus cavities (at the top of the large intestine channel) representing the causal laws underlying the four-fold spiritual (Ling), mental (Shen) etheric (Qi) and physical (Jing) nature of a human.

The large intestine channel is the causal division into a five bodied being. Jesus takes up the cross. One force unifies four. The supracausal and universal ‘bodies’ are formed first by the Metal energy of the third eye region, corresponding to the Lung channel. Out of this, the four bodies of the spiritual, astral, etheric and physical realms are generated, corresponding to the sphenoid, ethmoid, frontal and maxillary sinus cavities. These sinuses and ontological divisions are expressed in the Large Intestine channel as it connects through the sinuses.

– Metal Yang middle Dan-Tian:

– Bronchial system –

– Right and Left

– Five segmental bronchii

– 18 lobar bronchii (tertiary bronchii) leading to 18 hexagonal lobules or bronchio-pulmonary segments – 10 in right lung 8 in left lung

– alveoli – about 20 alveoli arise from each alveolar duct 300 million

This multiple division results in about 23-5 generations of airway, with geometrically increasing numbers and total cross-sectional areas, and decreasing diameters. For example, from one trachea with a diameter of about 180 mm in an adult, by the tenth generation we have 1000 bronchi, each with a diameter of about 1.3 mm; by the twentieth generation we have 1 million bronchioles, each with a diameter of about 0.5 mm; and right at the end there are about 300 million alveoli. The diameter of the alveoli, like that of the bronchi and bronchioles, varies with the degree of lung inflation, in the range 0.1-0.3 mm. The alveolar surface area may be 30-100 m2 Full surface area of 02 exchange maybe up to 300 m2.
For comparison, a tennis court is 260 m2 .

Alveoli increase in number from about 10 to 25 million at birth to several hundred million (300 million) when the lung is fully mature. In adults, number of alveoli varies directly with body length. New alveoli are formed by multiplication of existing ones during the first 8 years after birth. New alveoli are also formed by alveolarization of respiratory bronchioles up until about 3 years of age. The size of individual alveoli increases with age. The total alveolar surface area is 70 to 120 square meters, or about 70 times greater than body surface area.

Metal Yang lower Dan-Tian:

– L.I. and CV. 4, Containment of the alchemical cauldron – Bian Hua. A Ling level of function, where the large intestine circles the belly in the coronal plane.

– opposite animal is Dragon: relevance to cleansing of uterus / liver via colon cleansing. The Shen rises up the ascending colon on the right. It comes up to the East and the rising sun again, here is the Yang Ming, as it rises towards the Liver, the forest.

– Branch: Hai – a man and a woman under heaven, or a multitude under heaven

– Time: 5 AM to 7 AM. The best time for a bowel movement. The Yang Ming of the rising Sun expels the old, the dark and the night.

– Opposite time is 5 – 7 PM. The Kidney is the water moving engine. The Nei Jing says that the Large intestine sends Water to the Kidney. Large Intestine as a generator of Qi (Bob Flaws – Scatology and the Gate of Life)

– The Large Intestine is the main organ which pulls water from what has been eaten and drunk. The Kidney Yang pushes the Shen up the ascending colon on the right.

– Station of the Cross: Second: Jesus takes up the Cross – responsibility, engagement, task.

– Tree of Life – sixth branch on the left. Hai – L.I. On the twelfth branch, the eternity of the divine kingdom.

Clearing Questions

– What are you afraid to let go of?

– Where in your life do you give too much to others?

– Where in your life do you not give enough to others?

– In what areas are you not cooperating with your own evolution?

– What good things are you avoiding manifesting? Avoiding making into a reality in your life?

– What habits do you have?

– What recurrent mental arguments or fantasy conversations do you have in your mind?

– What inspires you?

– What do you love doing that puts you in a peak state?

– Who are your heroes? What are you in awe of?

Functions and Indications of the Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Channel.

Shang refers to the 5th note corresponding to metal, and The LI channel is a Yang channel. ((I&F), (GTW))

LI. 1 Clears Wind Heat – treats high fever, toothache, sore throat, tinnitus and deafness (LI. 1 has a special range of action on the ear).

LI. 1 Clears Internal Heat so it is good for revival from coma, fainting and high fever. (Jing Well points are good for revival)

LI. 1 clears fullness in the chest (this is also a Jing Well point function, to clear fullness below the Heart. An internal branch of the Lung Channel comes from L.7 to this point accentuating its Lung clearing effect)

LI. 1 expels Wind and cold from channel causing Bi Pain- for which it is moxa-ed (Jing Well point function).

Lu. 11 more effective for acute tonsillitis, LI. 1 more effective for fever with absence of sweating. (J.R.)

This point can clear the mind.(J.R.)

For very stubborn or withdrawn patients. Patient gets very cold (metallic) and cannot communicate. This point can help to remove the patients first ‘mask’ layer, so they will be more honest. (Wors.)

Excellent for shoulder, arm and neck problems and ‘frozen’ joints (Metal point of Metal Channel).

Has a tremendous effect on children, especially for throat disorders, constipation and diarrhea (Wors.) (Children often respond to points that clear Liver wind, being more constitutionally prone to Excess and Internal Wind).

For patients that like to stretch (Liver again). (Wors.)

Sore and cracked lips, nose problems (Wors.).

LI. 3 can be needled perpendicularly through to SI. 3. The hand should be kept in the loose fist position to keep the metacarpal bones aligned.
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Yang Stream refers to this point’s location in a stream like depression between two tendons on the yang aspect of the wrist where the channel Qi is vital and intense like a mountain stream (I&F), (GTW)

LI. 6 is the Luo point- so it connects with the Lungs and is effective for opening the water passages when Lung Qi has failed to descend water. As such it is used to treat upper body edema, difficult urination, ascites, borborygmus (fluid in abdomen), fluid accumulation in the chest.

The Luo Channel goes to the Ear, so LI. 6 is more indicated for ear symptoms than most other LI. Channel points. It treats tinnitus and deafness.

Has a marked mental effect esp. in manic depression. (G.M.) (Luo point function) For both edema and psychological problems relating to the Lungs, LI.6 can be used as an alternate to Lu. 7 (J.R.) (One should bear in mind that LI. 6 is located on the same ridge of the radius as Lu. 7, about 11/2 cun more proximal, hence their overlapping functions and indications)
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LI. 7 sends a warm current of Chi to warm up the cold inert Metal (Wors.)

LI. 7 treats swollen tongue and speech difficulties. (Wors.)

Can be used as an alternative to LI.4 for severe acute painful Channel indications (J.R.)
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Large Intestine 8

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Xia Lian

Lower angle Lower Integrity Inferior Region Lower Aspect Below Aside

Lower Ridge refers to its location on the ridge(radius) of the arm. -(GTW)

LI. 8 Reflexes the Small Intestine and St. 39 the Lower He Sea Point of the Small Intestine -as such it can treat pain and fullness in the abdomen, peri-umbilical pain, diarrhea and hematuria. (Heart Heat transfers to the Small Intestine and then the UB causing blood in the urine).

LI. 8 has some effect on the breast ( the LI. divergent channel goes to the breast. There is also a relationship between the SI Channel and the breast -c.f. SI. 1, and the Small Intestine organ and the Breasts – St. 39, the Lower He Sea of the Small Intestine has breast indications) .

LI. 9 Reflexes the Large Intestine and St. 37 – so it treats borborygmus and abdominal pain.

LI. 9 is a Reflex area (with LI.10) for bi pain of the shoulder and arm (TCM) and the neck (Japanese acupuncture).

If this point is spontaneously tender it indicates ‘brain fatigue’ (Wors.)

Treats swollen, rheumatic knees, loss of sensation in the limbs and cold feeling in the bones (Wors.)

Treats paralysis or atony of the bladder (Wors.)
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Large Intestine 10

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Shou San Li

Arm Three Miles Arm’s Three Measures,

Arm 3 miles like Zu San Li (Both are Yang Ming channel points below the joint) suggests the ability to boost strength and endurance for three more miles. (I&F)

The Li character may mean to rectify, as in this point’s ability to rectify the three burners-(GTW)

TREATS ABDOMINAL PAIN, CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA

LI. 10 Reflexes the Stomach and St. 36 (Zu San Li – Foot Three Miles), so it is used for abdominal pain constipation and diarrhea in much the same way as St. 36 is used.

Like St 36 it moves Qi and Blood – and is used a lot for motor impairment of the arm and Bi pain.

LI. 10 is also thought to tonify Qi and Blood (again like St. 36)and it is used for general circulation- cold hands and feet, stomach ache (Spleen Qi Deficiency) etc.

LI. 10 can also be used for lumbar pain.

LI. 10 is a major point in Japanese acupuncture for building Immunity and expelling Wind. Used when there are swollen glands, prolonged upper respiratory tract infections, weak constitution and Spleen Qi Deficiency.

LI. 10 is a major point in Japanese acupuncture for treating the neck and shoulder.

This is the most important point for treating the shoulder. Like all important points for musculoskeletal disorders, LI. 15 promotes the circulation of Qi and Blood, to move Qi and Blood stagnation locally.

In the Nei Jing, LI. 15 is listed as one of the ‘Eight points for Draining Heat from the Extremities’ along with Lu. 2, UB. 40 and GV. 2 .

In addition to being a crossing point of the LI and Yang Qiao Channels, the tendon-muscle channels of the UB and Lung bind here and the Small Intestine luo-connecting channel arises at SI. 7 and ends at LI. 15. (M. of A.) This emphasizes the dynamic Qi and Blood moving nature of LI. 15.

With the arm abducted, LI. 15 can be needled perpendicularly towards the center of the axilla.

LI. 15 can be needled 11/2 cun towards the elbow.

LI. 15 can be threaded under the acromion.
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Large Intestine 16 meeting (crossing) point of LI. and Yang Qiao Channels

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Ju Gu

Great Bone

Great Bone refers to it’s location and area of influence at the articulation of the clavicle and scapula. -(GTW)

TREATS CHRONIC SHOULDER IMPAIRMENT

LI. 16 is indicated for Blood stagnation in shoulder problems. It is used to treat chronic and recalcitrant disorders of the shoulder. It is primarily a local acting point

LI. 16 is an accessory point for blood stagnation in the chest with coughing and vomiting of blood.

This is an important gate for inhaling the Heavenly Qi. Hence the name (R.Liao)
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Large Intestine 18Window of Heaven point

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Fu Tu

Support the Prominence Protuberance Assistance (Shui Xue – Water Cave, Water acupuncture point)

Protuberance assistance indicates it’s location near the adam’s apple and its local functions. (GTW)

Fu literally means four fingers breadth which is the distance from the laryngeal prominence. -(I&F)

LI. 18 is primarily used for Throatand voice problems with local indications of sore throat, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dysphasia (difficulty talking) and aphasia (loss of voice) Traditionally it is indicated for ‘making sounds in the throat like a duck’ and ‘making sounds in the throat like a frog’.

LI. 18 is one of the original five Window of Heaven points listed in the Nei Jing, thus it treats stagnation of QI and phlegm in the neck and Ni counterflow Qi causing wheezing, cough and sudden loss of voice.

For grief, bereavement and inability to break out of self imposed isolation (J.R.)

Due to the proximity of LI. 18 to the Carotid artery and the carotid baro-receptors, LI. 18 can exert a sympathetico-mimetic influence on the autonomic nervous system thus treating hypotension and dyspnea and coughing (R. Liao)

LI. 18 can treat pain in the opposite hip (F. Mann)

The divergent channels of the Lu. And LI. Channels unite here. (R. Lowe)

Deep needling at this point may puncture the carotid artery or the jugular vein.
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Grain Bone-hole indicates the location, where a depression can be found the size of a grain of rice. (GTW)

LI. 19 is indicated for local symptoms of the nose and sinuses such as epistaxis (nosebleed), nasal congestion, rhinitis, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), nasal polyps etc.

LI. 19 is also indicated for the local symptoms of lockjaw, facial paralysis, toothache, gum problems and deviation of the mouth.

LI. 19 has some of the revival indications of nearby G.V. 26, such as loss of consciousness and death like inversion, but it is not considered a major point for this.
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Large Intestine 20 meeting (crossing) point of the St. and LI. Channels.

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Ying Xiang

Welcome Fragrance (Chong Yang – Heavy Yang)

Welcome Fragrance indicates it’s location next to and effect on the nasal orifice. Also Fragrance is associated with the earth phase which refers to this points intersection with the ST channel. (I&F), (GTW)

THE MAIN LOCAL NOSE POINT

LI. 20 is the most important local point for treating thenose andSinuses.

LI. 20 is also indicated for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, mouth and face awry, deviation of the mouth and facial tics. (LI. 20 is a crossing point of the two Yang Ming Channels, which dominate the face, hence its use in promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood in the facial area).

LI. 20 is indicated for the pain of roundworms in the bile duct (LI. 20 is close to the Liver and Small Intestine area in facial diagnostics and the diagnostic area for signs of pediatric parasite infestation).